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(No Model.) 12 Sheets=5heet I.

L. v. BENET 82 H. A. MERGIE. AUTOMATIC MAUHINE, GUN.

No. 564,043. Patented-July 14, 1896.

(NoModeL) I 12 Sheath-Sheet 2. L. V. BENET 85 H. A. MERCIE.

I AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

No. 564,043. Pater lsted Julyl l, 1896.

Swuewfow (N'0=Model.) 12 Sheets-Sheet 3.

L. V. BENET & H. A. ME-ROIE. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

Patented July 14, 1896.-

h. llll @7422 Qbtomeq (No Model.) 12 Sheets-Sheet 5.

L. v. BENET & H. A. MERGIE. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

No. 564,043. Patented-July 11 4, 1896.

Ill/ll (N0 Mod e1.)

i2 Sheets-Sheet e. L. V. BENET & H. A. MERCIE.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

Patented July 14, 1896,.

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\' '(No Model.) 12 Sheets-Sheet; 7.

L. V. BENET & H. A. MERGIE. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

' No. 564,043. Patented-July 14, 1896.

liimiiiimiiii I HIIIIIIIIII -:(NoModeL) Y 12 SheetsSheet 8. 'L. V. BBNET & H. A. MEROIE.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

No. 564,043. Patented July 14 1896.

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' L. v. BBNET & H. A. MERCIE.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

No. 56 4,043. Paten d-Julyl l, 1896.

(No Model.) 12 Sheets-Sheet 10.

L. V. BENET & H. A. MERGIE.

' AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

"No. 564,043. Patented July 14, 1896.

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12 SheetsShet 11 L. v. BENET & H. A. MEROI'E. AUTOMATIC MAGHINE GUN.

(No Model.)

No. 564,043., r Patented-July 14, 1896. I l u", V gg' fz 3C a a C X" W (No Model.) 12 Sheets-Sheet 12.

L. V. BENBT 8v H. A. MEROIE.

- V AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN- No. 56,043. Patented July 14, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEETCE.

LAURENCE V. BENET AND HENRI A. MERCIE, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNORS TO THE l-IOTCHKISS ORDNANOE COMPANY, LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENG- LAND.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,043, dated July 14, 1896.

Application filed February 26,1896. Serial No. 580,787. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LAUREN OE V. BENET,

a a citizen of the United States, and HENRI A. MEROIE, a citizen of the Republic of France,

residing at Paris, in the Republic of France, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Machine-Guns, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in that class of guns in which a portion of the gas developed by the explosion of the powder charge is utilized for operating the breech action and feed mechanism of the arm, and more particularly to that class in which a mo- I 5 tor-piston in perpetual engagement with a power accumulator is operated by the gases resulting from the explosion. It is evident, however, that the mechanism about to be de scribed may be applied, in whole or in part,

to guns operated by any well-known mech anical means.

The object of our invention is to produce a simple and eflicient mechanism whereby, when a certain part thereof is given a reciprocating motion by the action of the powdergas and a spring, or other mechanical means, all the operations of loading, firing, extract ing, ejecting, and cooking are automatically performed and in proper sequence, and to 0 provide also means whereby the rate of fire may be controlled, or the action of the gun interrupted, and to so form all parts of the mechanism that the same may be dismounted or assembled without the use of tools.

3 5 To attain these ends, our invention consists in the manner of securing the barrel and cylinder to the chamber or receiver; in the manner of stowing the mainspring or power-accumulator; in the construction of the abut- 0 ments of the locking-dog, which looks the breech-bolt, when closed; in the structural features and combinations of various elements of the self-contained removable cartridge-feed mechanism; in means by which the motor-piston automatically imparts a positive forward movement to the feed mechanism; in means for automatically looking back the m otor-piston when the cartridge-strip is exhausted; in various structural features and methods of mounting the pistol-grip, the

direction indicated by the arrow.

trigger, the cocking-handle and its guard, the sear, the extractor, the ejector; in meansfor controlling the rapidity of fire, and in the structural features and combinations of various other cooperative parts, as hereinafter 5 5 described.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate our invention, Figure 1 is a side and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the gun. Fig. 3 is a side and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the receiver. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal and Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the receiver. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the barrel and cylinder, and Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 9 is an end View of Fig. 7, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 9, showing the barrel and collar with the cylinder removed. Fig 10 is arear view of the barrel in Fig. 7, showing the breech where it abuts against the breech-block. Fig. 11 is acrosssection of the cylinder on line 11 11 of Fig. 7. Figs. 12 and 13 are respectively rear and front elevations of the gun. Figs. 14, 15, and 16 are cross-sections on the lines 14 14, 15 15, and 16 16 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 17 is a similar view, with the section of piston omitted, on the line 17 17 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow, and Fig. 18 is a cross-section on. the line 18 18 of Fig. 5, looking in the Fig. 19 is a side elevation, and Fig. 20 is a plan view, of the piston. Figs. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 are cross-sections on the lines 21 21, 22 22, 2 23,

24 24, 25 25, and 26 26 of Fig. 19, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 27 is a front elevation of the piston. Fig. 28 is a side, Fig. 29 a plan, Fig. 30 a front, and Fig. 31 a rear, view of the sear. Fig. is a detail view in perspective of the front cam portion of the 0 piston. Fig. 35 is a similar view of the cock ing-handle. Fig. 34 is a similar View of the rear cam portion of the piston, showing the sear, and Fig. 35 is a similar view of the sear. Fig. 36 is a similar View of the trigger. Fig. 5 37 is a detail perspective view, with parts broken away, of that part of the receiver in which is seated the removable feed mechanism. Fig. 38 is a detail perspective view of the removable feed mechanism. Fig. 39 is a similar view of the feed mechanism split key. Fig. 40 is a detail perspective view of the feed-gear. vFig. 41 is a similar view of the piston-locking lever operated by the feedstrip. Fig. 42 is a similar view of the feedmechanism shaft. Figs. 43, 44, and 45 are side, front, and plan views of the feed boxing and guide. Figs. 46 and 47 are sectional views of the feed-box on the lines 46 46 and 47 47 of Fig. 44, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 48 is a horizontal section through the feed mechanism and box on the line 48 48 of Fig. 3. Fig. 49 is a detail perspective View of the front portion of the breech-block with a portion of the eX- tractor broken away. Fig. 50 is a similar view of a portion of the extractor. Fig. 51 is a similar rear view of the breech-block, showing the manner of locking the extractor. Fig. 52 is a detail view in perspective showin g manner of uniting the block with its nosepiece. Fig. 53 is a similar view of the breechblock, taken from the opposite side of Fig. 51, showing the groove for operating the ejector. Fig. 54 shows detail perspective views of the ejector. Fig. 55 is a view of the forward end of the breech-bolt, showing the operation of ejecting the empty shell. Fig. 56 is a bottom view, and Fig. 57 a longitudinal sectional view, of a portion of the cylinder, showing the valve. Figs. 58 and 59 are section views on the lines 58 58 and 59 59, respectively, of the two preceding figures, Fig. 60 is a side and Fig. 61 aplan view of a modified way of securing together the barrel, collar, cylinder, and receiver. 'Figs. 62 and 63 are cross-sections on the lines 62 62 an d 63 63 of the two preceding figures. Figs. 64 and 65 are plan and side views of the elastic feedstrip. Fig. 66 is a section of the same on the line 66 66 of Fig. 64. Figs. 67 and 68 are plan and side views of the flexible feed strip, and Fig. 69 is a section of the same on the line 69 69 of Fig. 67.

In all the figures like letters denote like parts.

\Ve shall first describe our mechanism in detail and later on explain the general workin g of the gun.

In. the drawings our invention is shown as applied to a rifled caliber machine-gun, but it is evident that the same devices may be applied to guns of larger caliber.

A, Fig. 1, is the receiver which contains the operative mechanism of the gun, which may be a single forging or casting of metal, and which bears at its forward end the trunnions A A or other device for supporting the gun on its carriage. In the front end of the receiver is screwed or otherwise atttached the barrel B, which is rifled and chambered in the usual manner. \Ve generally make this barrel greater in thickness than is usual in small arms of like caliber, in order that it may better resist the heat developed by rapid firing, and that it may be as free as possible from vibrations. Toward the muzzle end. of the barrel is secured by shrinkage or otherwise the collar I3, on which we sometimes mount the foresight B and which serves as a support for the forward end of the cylinder 0. Through the cylinder, collar, and barrel is formed the canal O, bringing the bore in communication with the cylinder, and which may be circular or of other form in cross-section.

To the rear of the collar a port 0 is formed through the walls of the cylinder, and when this port is unmasked by the movement of the piston D to the rear, any gas passing from the bore of the gun into the cylinder will exhaust into the open air. As shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, the barrel is screwed into the receiver at its rearward end, and the cylinder into the collar at its forward end. A key B" is driven through a slot in the receiver and bearing in keyways in the barrel, and the cylinder locks the whole together. In the cylinder 0 is lodged the piston D, which has a longitudinal reciprocating motion under the influence of the gas drawn from the barrel acting on its forward end and the mainspring E.

Beginning at the front end of the piston we find a cylindrical head or guide D, which re eeives the pressure of the gas drawn from the barrel, and which serves to guide the piston in the cylinder. To the rear of this is formed the annular groove D which acts as a gascheck and which may or may not contain a spring or other packing. It will be observed that the interior diameter of the cylinder is essentially that of the piston up to the point G which is slightly to the rear of the extreme rearward position of the piston. To the rear of this point the interior diameter of the cylinder is increased in order to give a sufliciency of clearance to reduce friction. To the rear of the groove D the piston is provided with four or more grooves D D which provide for any accumulation of powder residue which may work its way to the rear of the piston-head.

Under the piston is formed the tang D, Fig. 32, which takes the thrust of the mainspring E and provides a seat for the cockinghandle F, Fig. This is a single piece of i-shaped metal, the lower portion f of which is curved to fit the fingers of the man operating the gun, and is provided with the key f and the hook-shaped portions f which fit into corresponding recesses d d in the tang D and with the upward projection 1", which registers with a recess (1 in the body of the piston. The object of this key, hook, and projection is to hold the handle firmly against any longitudinal effort, and to permit shipping it vertically into its seat.

The cocking-handle F has a longitudinal motion in a cylindrical chamber A in the receiver A, which contains the mainspring E, and its finger-grip f projects through a longitudinal bottom slot A in the chamber, in which it is supported by two lateral guides f f, along the narrow forward portion of the slot, extending from a to a, but can be withdrawn through the wider portion of the slot extending rearward from a. To the rear the cocking-handle F, Figs. 5 and 33, is provided with the cylindrical recess f which affords a seat for the end of the mainspring E. Thus it is evident that when the mainspring is in place it will prevent the cocking-handle from falling out of its seat. Hence, if the cookinghandle be in place, it can only be dismounted by first removing the mainspring and then withdrawing the piston to the rear.

A downward-projecting guard A, Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 37, extends entirely around the slot A inclosing the finger-grip f, to protect the hand of the gunner.

Still further to the rear of the piston D is lodged the sear G, which serves to hold the piston to the rear when engaged with the trigger. The scar G, Figs. 28, 29, 30, 31, and 35, consists of a single piece of steel provided with the cocking-notch G, and the bearings g g, which fit into corresponding recesses d in the piston, Fig. 34:, and resist the thrust of the latter: To the front the sear is provided with the axes g g, which fit in bearings d in the piston, and the bearings g g are concentric with these axes. It is therefore evident that the sear may be swung about its axis and out of its seat. To provide for the complete removal of the sear, the axes g are flattened along the surfaces g and a corresponding opening d is made to their seat in the piston. hen swung sufficiently to the front, the flattened portion of the axis registers with this opening and the sear may be removed from the piston.

In the lower part of the receiver, Figs. 5 and 36, is mounted the trigger H, which consists of a single piece of steel provided with the finger-piece h. A cylindrical aperture h is pierced through the body of the trigger to permit the passage of the mainspring, as shown in Fig. 5. The trigger is seated in a rec'essD having an upper rearward seat 66 worked in the receiver, (see Fig. 5,) which is so formed that the trigger is held between its projecting bearings 7?, which enter said seat 01 and the opposite surface d of the reeess D which is concentric with said bearings. The recess D is enlarged downward from the trigger-bearings seat d toward the rear, so that the trigger may revolve about itspivot on its bearings 72. until the rear surface h of the trigger strikes the rear surface d of the trigger-recess. In this position the trigger is disengaged from the front surface 61 of the recess and may be withdrawn from its seat after the removal of the mainspring. On the upper surface of the trigger is formed the cocking-notch H, which enters the guide-groove D in the lower surface of the piston to the rear of the sear G, Fig. 34, and engages with the sear G when the piston is in its rearward position. The pistol-grip I, Fig. 5, consists of a single casting comprising the grip I and the trigger-guard I and is secured to the receiver A by the hooks ii. Between the trigger II and the pistol-grip I is located the sear-spring G which consists of the spiral spring G having one extremity seated in a recess 71 located in the trigger to the rear of the finger-piece 7i, and the other extremity held by the stud i on the front of the pistol-grip, so that the sear-spring G tends to press the trigger to the front. It is thus seen that when the pistol-grip I is in place the trigger H cannot be sufficiently revolved to the rear to become disengaged, as its movement is limited by the finger-piece h striking the surface 1' on the pistol-grip.

The shoulder-piece J, Fig. 5, consists of a single casting comprising in one the abutment for the mainspring J, the shoulderpiece proper, J and the cover for the mechanism J On the inner side of the mainspring abutment J is formed the studj,which supports the rear end of the mainspring E. The inner surfacej serves as a stop for the piston in case it is thrown violently to the rear by the action of the powder-gas and the abutment, projecting downward over the rear end of the pistol-grip I, prevents the grip from being unhooked by being withdrawn to the rear. The shoulder-piece is secured to the receiver A by means of the lugs 1' at its front end, which engage in corresponding recesses a in the receiver, Fig. 1, and the pin J which passes through the ears A on the rear of the receiver and shoulder-piece, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4L, and 5. The pin J is provided, Figs. 3 and 6, with a spring-handle J terminating in a button J and the pin carries a small stud 9' which engages in an annular slot a in the receiver. Under the button J is asmall lug or projection j", which engages in a corresponding recess a in the side of the receiver. To remove the pin J it is grasped by the button J 6 and the lug j sprung out of its recess a, when the handle J 5 may be turned one hundred and eighty degrees to the rear, freeing the stud j, and the pin may now be withdrawn.

The breech-block L, Figs. 5, 6, and 4:9 to 53, is seated in guides in the upper part of the receiver A in line with the axis of the bore. Its general form is cylindrical, but to the rear it is partially squared and flared to form two guides L L, which fit in grooves a a in the receiver, Fig. 18. The breech-block is bored axially to form a chamber for the firing-pin M, and a longitudinal groove Z is worked in the bottom of this chamber to receive the guidelug m of the firing-pin, Figs. 14, 15, and 16. The firing-pin chamber is counterbored to the front to receive the nose-piece L which is secured by means of two or more lugs l on its stem, which engage in corresponding grooves Z in the counterbore. Slots Z the width of the above lugs lead to the grooves in such manner that if the nose-piece be given half a turn the lugs will register with the slots, and the nose-piece may be withdrawn. The nosepiece is pierced with a passage Z for the firin pin, and on its front face is provided with the lip Z and the lug Z, which hold the flange of the cartridge against the spring of the extractor. Between the lip and the lug just mentioned a slot Z' is formed to permit the ejector to pass under the head of the cartridge.

To the rear of the breech-block L, Fig. 5, is journaled the locking-dog L on the rivet Z which passes through dog and breech-block. This rivet fits the breech-block very loosely in order that the pressure of the cartridge on the breech-block may be delivered directly to the dog on its head 1 and not through the rivet. The movement of the locking-dog about its pivot is limited by its upper face Z coming into contact with the overhanging under face surface i of the breech-block, as shown in Fig. 51. In Fig. 5 the locking-dog is shown in the posit-ion of the breech closed, and in this position it transfers the pressure of the cartridge to the two small abutments A seated in the receiver, Figs. 5 and 17, against which bears the rear end Z of the dog, the surface of which is cut concentrically with the rivet l To unlock the dog and open the breech, it is necessary to raise the former until the faces Z and Z are in contaet,when the rear end Z of the dog will be clear of the abutments A The firing-pin M, located in the chamber in the forward part of the breech-block L, is provided with a lug m, which travels in a longitudinal groove Zin thebottom of the chamber. The rear end of the firing'pin projects into a vertical slot or chamber L", formed in the rear of the breech-block L above the piston D, and is provided with a downwardly-proj ectin g toe m.

The breech-block L and firing-pin M are broughtinto engagement with the piston D in the following way, (see Fig. 5:) Above the emplacement of the sear G the piston D is provided with two tangs D and D which project up into the slot L of the breech-block L and have a limited longitudinal play between the front and rear abutments Z Z of the slot L, and between which en gage the downwardprojecting toe m of the firing-pin M. Then the piston D moves to the rear, the tang D of the piston striking the toe m of the firing-pin M withdraws it. As the piston D continues its rearward motion, withdrawingwith it the firing-pin M, the lifting-cam L located on the upper face of the piston D to the rear of the tang D passing under the downward projection Z on the locking-dog, raises it until it finally rests upon the lifting-cam L constituting a forward extension of the cam L, in which position the rear end Z of the dog has cleared the abutments A. As the piston D continues to the .rear the heel D on the rear of the tang D strikes the rear abutment l of the slot L*, withdrawing the breech-block, and opening the breech, while the rear end Z of the dog L rests upon the guide-surfaces c Fig. 6, formed in the rear end of the receiver A, from which it is prevented from swinging into the locked position, except when in line with its abutments A The closing of the breech is effected by the forward movement of the piston D in the following way: On the rear end of the piston D is an upward and forward curved locking-cam D the front face of the cam having an inwardly-beveled cam-face (Z hen the piston moves forward to close the breech, the cam-face (Z of the locking-cam D comes in contact with the rear end Z of the dog, and as the latter cannot descend on account of its bearing 011 the guides a a the breech-block is pushed to the front and the breech closed. Vhen the breech is closed, further movement of the breech-block L is impossible, and the locking-dog L is in line with its abutments A and no longer held up by the guides a (L10. The piston D continuingits movement, the cam c2 forces the locking-dog L downward into engagement with its abutments A, where upon the groove (Z in the upper face of the rear end Z of the locking-dog registers with the lower cam-face d of thelo'cking-cam D and the locking-cam D entering the groove (Z prevents any unlocking of the dog. Continuing the forward motion of the piston, the tang D forces forward the firing-pin M, which strikes the primer and explodes the cartridge.

Guides D Working in groove a in the rear of the receiver, Fig. 5, hold the piston D securely against the effort necessary to maneuver the locking-dog.

The extractor N consists of a single steel shank N, Figs. 49 and 50, the front end of which is divided into two branches or 92-, each of which is provided with a hook to grasp the flange of the cartridge. The extractor is seated in a groove Z in the right side of the breech block L, which seat is continued through the nose-piece L as shown at Z", Fig. 52, so that the nose-piece L cannot be turned when the extractor is in place. The extractor is held in place by the hooks n 'n, which engage under recesses Z in the breechblock by just the distance between the hooks of the extractors n n and the front face of the nose-piece L Hence to dismount the extractor it is only necessary to push it to the rear, when the hooks a n will be freed from their seats. This cannot .be done when the breech-block is in the gun, as the rear end 01 of the extractor bears against the head 1 of the locking-dog L when the latter is mounted in the receiver. WVhen, however, the breechblock is removed from the gun, the dog L may be turned vertically downward, when the end n of the extractor will register with the recess Z in the head Z of the dog. In this position the extractor may be pushed to the rear and dismounted. The extractor is divided into the two branches n n in order that the recesses 12 b, Fig. 10, in the funnel-shaped extension B of the chamber, made in the rear of the barrel to permit the passage of the extractor, may not be sufficiently wide to permit the bullet of a cartridge to engage therein and cause a jam.

On the left side of the receiver, Figs. 3, t, 0, and 37, is formed the housing A for the ejector O, which has a longitudinal opening e for the introduction of the latter. A hearing is drilled vertically through the housing to receive the ejector-trunnions 0, and a passage (0 is slotted into this hole. The ejector 0, Figs. 6, 54, and 55, consists of a single piece of steel provided with trunnions 0 0. These trunnions are flattened in the direction of the length of the ejector, as shown in Figs. 5a and 55, in such a manner that the breech-block being removed from the receiver, Fig. (5, the ejector-arm 0 may be passed through the opening (U and the flattened portion of the trunnions 0 slipped through the passage a and the trunnions engaged in the hearing at. If the ejector be now turned until parallel to the axis of the gun, the trunnions can no longer be withdrawn through the passage a and the' ejector is in place. The ejector being mounted in its housing, the inner lug 0 011 its arm 0 engages in a longi tudinal guide-groove Z in the breech-block L, and assuming the ejector to be in its position with reference to the breech-block at the moment of ejection, as shown in Fig. 55, its toe 0 has entered into the seat Z in the nose-piece L and is in line with the head of the cartridge as held by the extractor. The ejector is positively held in this position, as the inner lug o of the arm 0 bears against the side of the breech-block at the forward end of the guidegroove Z and the outer lug 0 on the same arm against the ejector-housing, as indicated by the drawings. As the breech-block moves forward to close the breech, the inclined surface of the bottom of the slot Z in the nose-piece strikes the toe o of the ejector, raising the latter. At this moment the groove Z in the side of the breech-block comes in line with the inner lug 0 and the latter enters the groove as the toe o rides up on the side of the breechblock. Hence as the block moves forward to push a cartridge into the chamber, the ejector is withdrawn fromaction. As the breech opens to extract an empty cartridge-case the ejector is inoperative until the inclined surface Z at the head of the groove Z strikes the inner lug 0 on the ejectorarm 0, cansing the ejector to pivot about its trunnions and forcing the toe 0* to follow the slot Z and bringing the toe in line with the head of the cartridge. Striking the toe, the cartridge is knocked free from the extractor and ejected through the aperture L in the receiver, Fig. 37.-

The feed mechanism, Figs. l4, l5, l6, and 38 to 4:8, is contained in the box P, which aifords bearing and housing within the case P for the operative parts, and guides on the feed-table P for the feed strips or bands.

Through bearings in the lower part P of the feed-box passes the shaft P, on which is mounted the sleeve 19 having integral therewith the feed-wheel P and the cam-pinion P. The sleeve 19 with its feed-wheel and pinion revolve in chambers 19* of the case P, which keep it from longitudinal motion along the shaft, and the upper portion of the feedwheel P projects through the slot p of the feed-table P On the head of the shaft P is mounted an arm P carrying at its eX- tremity the pawl proper, 0 which extends through a slot in the side of the casing P and engages a ratchet P on the face of the cam pinion P. These ratchet teeth, of which there are two for every one of the cam pinion, are so disposed that when in engagement with the pawl they permit of the revolution of the pinion forward but not to the rear. The arm P also serves to lock the end of the feed-shaft P from longitudinal motion in one direction in the following way:

The feed-shaft P is reduced in diameter 8.1319 near its head for a distance corresponding to the thickness of the arm P and an aperture 19 of this same diameter is bored part way through the pawl-arm, on one side connecting with a counterbore p, from the other side of enlarged size to admit for a short distance the full diameter of the feedshaft head, as shown in Figs. 42 and A8. A passage 19 of the width of the reduced portion 19 of the feed-shaft leads into this shaftbearing 19 p" and is formed concentrically with the pawl 19. Hence when the neck 11 of the shaft is in the aperture, the pawl may be revolved about itself and freed from the shaft, but when the head of the shaft enters the counterbore 19 this is not possible. The head of the shaft P* is held in the counterbore p by the tension of the pawl-spring P bearing against the collar 13 on the shaft 19 and which is lodged in the cylindrical chamber 19 in the case P. On the head of the pawl a handle 19 is formed, and this permits withdrawing the pawl from engagement with the ratchet-teeth when desired.

Immediately to the rear of the breech and below the path of the breech-block (see Fig. 37) a chamber is worked in the receiver A, into which the feed-box P with its contained mechanism fits. On inserting the feed-box into its seat, it is secured to the receiver A by means of the projecting guides 19 p on the feed-table P, which fit into corresponding mortises p, out through the receiver. \Vhen th us placed, the feed-table P projects through and beyond the aperture in the receiver A, and the feed-box is held in place by means of the split key P which fits into a dovetail slot in the lower side of the box, and abuts against the side of the receiver. (See Figs. 4, 14;, 15, and 30.) This key is provided with the handle 13 by means of which it may be withdrawn from its seat. The mechanism in the case P of the feed-box now rests in the following position: The end of the feed-shaft P, carrying the pawl-spring P rests in a re cess c1 of the receiver, and its end abutting against the end of the recess, motion to the left is prevented. To the right the head of the shaft engages in the recess a of the receiver, which is of such length as to permit of sufficient movement of the shaft to the right against the tension of the pawl-spring P to release the pawl 19 from the ratchet P but not enough to permit the shaft-head to be freed from the counterbore p and finally the cam-pinion P lies in the slot a", directly in the path of the cam Q on the piston D, (see Figs. 5 and 48,) which, by its engagement with the cam-pinion P, imparts to it a positive forward motion, thus rotating the feedwheel P which feeds the cartridge-bands to the breech, as hereinafter described.

Referring to Fig. 48, which shows the piston D in its forward position, (breech closed,) it will be observed that the teeth of the campinion P fall in the open space q to the rear Of the cam Q, and pawl 13 being drawn out of engagement with the ratchet P the pinion is free to turn in either direction. In this position the feed-strip may be engaged or withdrawn from engagement with the feedwheel P, as hereinafter described. As the piston D moves to the rear the cam Q will engage between two teeth of the pinion P, the pointed end q of the cam bringing the pinion into position if it is not exactly in line. The pinion will then be positively held, as shown in Fig. 16. Vhile thus held, the operations of extracting and ejecting the empty cartridge-case will be performed. Then these operations are completed, the piston continuing its rearward movement, as the forward end (1 of the cam Q, withdraws from between the teeth of the pinion P the cam Q, located at this point on the piston D, strikes the inner toot-h of the pinion, causing the latter to revolve through an are equal to about one-half of the pitch of the teeth, and continuing the motion the teeth arrive in line with the open space 1 on the piston, and in this position the pinion P is again free to revolve and the feedstrips may be engaged or disengaged from the feed-wheel, the pawl being disengaged, as already described. The gun is now cooked and the breech-block open. As the piston moves forward to close the breech and fire the gun, the bevel-face of the cam Q strikes the tooth considered above, causing the pinion to revolve the remainder of the pitch of the teeth, and the following tooth strikes the face g of the cam Q. At this moment the breech-block strikes a cartridge in the feedstrip and loads it in the chamber, as hereinafter described, and during this motion the pinion is positively held by a tooth engaging on either side of the cam Q, as shown in Fig. 16. It is thus seen that when the piston is in either of its extreme positions to the front or rear, and the pawl withdrawn, the pinion P is free to turn in either direction; that while the breech-block is either forcing a cartridge into the chamber or extracting it, the pinion is positively held, and that immediately after the ejection and before the breech -block strikes a fresh cartridge the pinion revolves through an are equal to the pitch of its teeth through the action of the cams Q and the bevel-face g of cam Q.

The pinion P is prevented from following the cam Q instead of the bevel-face g of the cam Q, on the piston moving forward, by the ratchet P in which the first of the two teeth corresponding to each tooth of the pinion is so placed that it engages with the pawl 19 as soon as the pinion-teeth are in position to receive the point q of the cam Q between them and the second ratchet-tooth engages as soon as the piniontooth has been revolved by the cam Q.

To keep the breech open when a feed-strip has been exhausted, we provide the lock R, Figs. 38, 41, and 458, which consists of a lever formed of a single piece of steel loosely threaded upon the feed-shaft P within the chamber 17 ofthe feed-case, having one arm 0' projecting through a slot 19 in the feed-table P in the wake of the passage of the feedstrip, in which position it is held by the locksprin'g r which engages in the seat 1" in its lower arm 0 and bears against the spring-box, as shown in Fig. 1%. hen in this position, the toe r on the arm 1' is in the wake of the locking-lug B, Fig. 32, on the piston D, and when the latter is in its extreme rearward position, slightly to the rear of the position in which the scar and trigger engage, the toe 0 drops in front of the lug R and prevents the forward movement-of the piston. that when the feed-strip is pushed into place over the feed-table P the lever-arm '1- is depressed and the toe removed from engagement with the locking-lug R. Hence, when the feed-strip is in place the lock is inoperative, but when the strip is exhausted the lever is released and the toe holds the piston to the rear, thus obviating the necessity of recocking the gun for each fresh strip.

The feed-strip S, Figs. 64: to (50, consists of a narrow sheet of brass, tin, or other elastic material and may be of any convenient length, containing in general from twenty to fifty cartridges. Longitudinal ribs .5 s are formed to give it stiffness. Three rows of clips 5 s s are formed, as shown, to hold the cartridges. The front row of clips s cmbraces the cartridges at the neck from the right, the middle row 8 holds the bodies of the cartridges from the left, and the rear row 5 holds the cartridges near the heads from the right. Small projections s are thrown up in line with the cartridge-heads and prevent withdrawal of the cartridges to the rear. The openings S, formed in the strip when the clips 3 are thrown up, are so formed that the front sides are spaced to the pitch of the feed-wheel P the teeth of which engage therein, as shown in Fig. 60. Also the rear edges of the clips 3 are rounded, as shown at to aid in raising the head of the cartridge to the level of the chamber. To the rear the It follows strip is cut away at s to permit the lever-arm r of the lock B, Fig. 15, to rise when the last cartridge in the strip is in the loading position.

The abutment s is formed on the front of each strip to engage the feed-wheel on the introduction of the strip into the feed-table and the tail 5- on the rear to accomplish its ejection.

The feed-box, Fig. 38, is grooved at p to receive the edges of the feed-strip, and also provides a guide 19 which guides the bullet of the cartridge, and a guide 19 which guides the head of the cartridge. The guides 19 and p are so placed with reference to the guides 19 that the bullet and cartridge-head guide the band into the latter; that is, the cartridge is firmly held by the guides 11 19 before the band reaches the entrance to the guides 19. In the receiver of the gun above the feed-table P is formed the tongue A Fig. 37, which passes under each cartridge and over the band as the band is fed into the gun. This piece serves to lift the cartridge out of the clip and, guiding it up the incline p on the feed-table, Figs. 46 and 47, brings it to the loading level. The cartridge is stopped by the abutment A on the receiver, against which it is held elastically in line by its clip 8 as the strip advances under the influence of the feed-wheel.

The general action of the gun is as follows: Assuming the breech-block to be closed, as shown in Fig. 5. To load the clip, S is engaged in the guides 19 19 of the feed-box and pushed firmly home. The abutment s of the strip strikes the feed-wheel p causing the latter to revolve in engagementwith the opening S of the strip 5 until the first cartridge strikes the side of the breech-block L. At this moment the pawl 13 engages with one of the teeth of the ratchet P and the cartridge is held in position preparatory to the operation which brings it into alinement with the cartridge-chamber and frees it from the strip. Grasping the cocking-handle F the piston is drawn to the rear and the cam Q engages between two teeth of the pinion P and holds it firmly in place. The tang D bearing against the toe m of the firing-pin M withdraws the latter, when the cam L strikes the projection Z on the lockingdog L raising the latter, which now rests on the cam-bearing L The tang D now strikes the abutment Z of the breech-block, withdrawing the latter, the dog now being supported by the guides a Fig. 6. The breech-block is now withdrawn and the cam Q, on the piston strikes a tooth of the feed-pinion P causing the pinion to revolve and bringing the first cartridge partially in line with the chamber. The pawl 19 now engages a second tooth in the ratchet P and prevents the feed-pinion from turning backward. The scar G now engages with the triggennotch H and the gun is cooked. In the meantime the feedstrip S has ridden over the lever 'r of the lock R, depressing the former and withdrawing the toe r from the line with the locking-lug R. If the trigger be pulled freeing the cocking-notch Hfrom the sear G, the mainspring E, acting on the tang D will throw the piston to the front. The camface c1 of the locking-piece D bearing on the rear end Z of the dog, will move the breech-block forward, as the dog cannot descend on account of the guides at The bevel-face g of the cam Q now strikes a tooth on the feed-pinion P, causing the latter to revolve and forcing the feed-strip farther into the receiver. The tongue A passing under the first cartridge, lifts it partially from the clip and it is pressed firmly against the abutment A the bullet riding up the incline 19 Figs. M5 and 4:7. The lip Z on the nose-piece L now strikes the head of the cartridge, forcing it out of the clip, the head of the cartridge riding over the rounding s of the clip .9 and the cartridge is forced into the chamber. hen fully home, the breechblock is stopped by striking the entrance of the chamber, and the surface Z of thelockingdog is in line with the abutments A The cam c1 now forces the dog into place and the breech is locked. The tang D now strikes the firing-pin and fires the cartridge. \Vhen the bullethas passed the entrance of the canal O, the powder-gas passes into the cylinder (1, and acting on the head D of the piston D drives the latter to the rear. Vhen the breech was closed, the hooks n n of the extractor N were sprung over the flange of the cartridge and the latter was held between the extractor and the lip Z on the nose-piece. As the piston moves to the rear the empty cartridge-case is withdrawn from the chamber, and when the breech is fully open the inclined face Z at the head of the ejector-guide slot Z 9 strikes the inner lug 0 on the ejector, causing the toe 0 on the latter to come in wake of the cartridge-head. The ejector striking the head the cartridge is forced out of the grasp of the extractor, and is ejected through the opening L on the opposite side of the gun. If the trigger be released, it will engage with the scar and the gun will be ready for another shot. If the trigger be held back, the spring will immediately return the piston and fire will continue until the feed-strip is exhausted. WVhen the last cartridge is in the loading position, the lever r on the feed-lock R will spring up through the slot 19 in the feed-table P and the opening .9 on the loading-strip S, and the toe r engaging with the locking-lug R, will hold the breech open. A new strip may now be introduced and pushed home until the first cartridge brings up against the abutment A on the receiver, when the lockinglever 0 will again be depressed, and fire may again be resumed. If it be required to withdraw a partially-expended feed-strip,the pawl 19 is released from the ratchet by pulling the handle and the strip pulled out. This may be done with either the breech open or closed.

The safety-bolt K, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, con- IIO sists of a shaft K, which traverses the receiver, one half of which is slotted away (see Fig 5) to permit the passage of the piston when firing, and the piston D is cut away on its lower side from the point (Z to the rear, to permit it to ride over the safety-lock shaft K, when the latter is in its unlocked position with its slotted portion uppermost, as shown in Fig. 5. hen the piston is in its rearward position, the sear G,being in engagement with the cocking-notch II of the trigger H, the safety-bolt registers with the recess d in the piston. If the bolt be now turned to the safety position at an angle of one hundred and eighty degrees, it acts as an eccentric cam entering the recess d and withdrawing the piston toward the rear and releasing the cookingnotch and sear from the strain, and when the piston is in its forward position, as after firing, if the slotted shaft K be again turned to the position of safety it will fall in the path of the piston and prevent its rearward motion. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4c, the safety bolt K is fitted with the spring-handle K to the end of which is secured the button K under which is a small stud 7a, which registers with corresponding recesses a a in the side of the receiver in the two positions of fire and safety. The bolt is limited in its movement by the stops a and a The flexibility of the handle K will, however, permit the stud 7x) to be sprung over these stops and the handle brought to an essentially vertical position, in which position the stud k becomes free from its seat and the bolt may be withdrawn from its seat similarly to the locking-pin of the shoulder-piece.

To dismount the gun, proceed as follows: Pull out the key securing the feed-box; withdraw the latter; press out the head of the feedshaft; swing the pawl about itself and remove; pull out the feed-shaft; remove the pawlspring, drop out the feed-pinion; drop out the lock and lock-spring; spring the safetylock over the stop a turn to a vertical position and withdraw; turn the shoulder-piece locking-pin J 4 through one hundred and eighty degrees and withdraw; remove the shoulder-piece; withdraw the mainspring; pull out the pistol-grip to the rear and re move; swing the trigger to its extreme rearward position and remove it and its spring; pull the cocking-handle to the rear, when it will drop out; pull out the piston and with it the breech-block; turn the locking-dog until at right angles to the breech-block and press on hooks of extractor, when the latter will spring out of place; give a half-turn to nosepiece and withdraw; drop out firing-pin; swing out ejector and remove; withdraw the barrel-locking key B and screw out cylinder and barrel; mount in reverse order.

In order to regulate the rate of fire of the gun, we provide a valve which controls the point at which the exhaust of the powder-gas is applied in the cylinder 0, thereby regulating the violence with which the piston is thrown to the rear, and consequently the rate of fire.

In Figs. 56 to 50 we show one form of valve for regulating size of exhaust-port, as well as its distance from the inlet-port,which consists of a simple sleeve X slipped over the cylinder 0 and provided with a port 00, corresponding to the exhaust-port 0*. By suitable means, such as the milled head X, this sleeve may either be moved longitudinally along the cylinder or revolved around it, thereby varying the area of the exhaust-port and its distance from the inlet-canal. Graduations corresponding to the resulting rates of fire may be provided for this device.

lVe do not limit ourselves to any particular form or construction of valve, the essence of this part of our invention consisting in controlling the point in the expansion of the gas in the gas-chamber at which the exhaust takes place by regulating the distance between the cylinder inlet and exhaust ports by any suitable device.

Vhile we have shown the extractor as divided in order to lie in the narrow grooves in the funnel-shaped extension B of the barrel, it is obvious that the cartridge-lip and lug of the breech-bolt may be divided in the same manner, the essence of this part of our invention consisting in making the grooves within the funnel of such width that it will be impossible for the bullet to jam therein and in providing the funnel to guide the cartridge into the chamber,however badly the cartridge may be presented.

In Figs. 5 and 6 we have shown one way of securing the barrel and cylinder to the receiver A. In Figs. 60 to (33 we show another and preferable way of lockin g the barrel and cylinder in place by replacing the screwthreads on the barrel l3 and cylinder 0 with longitudinal cylinder and barrel splines 2 2", which register with longitudinal grooves z in the collar B and receiver, respectively, and by substituting for the key a wedge By this arrangement barrel and cylinder may he slipped longitudinally into place and secured by the wedge.

In place of the elastic cartridge strip S, (shown in Figs. 64 to 66,) we may employ a flexible band, as shown in Figs. 67 to 09, which consists of a series of links T, jointed together by hooks and eyes it, formed in the links. Each link has formed upon it the clips 15 and 25 which hold the cartridge at the neck and near the head, respectively, and the bearing i 25', which prevents the cartridge from being withdrawn to the rear. The clip i is rounded at t to raise the head of the cartridge when it is forced into the chamber by the breech-block. The bearings T are formed to engage with the teeth of the feedwheel P and are spaced to the pitch of this latter. The tongue 5 is formed on the first clip of each band to facilitate the introduc tion of the latter into the feed.

It is evident that many features of our in- IIO 

